DPT chapter 14

The annual meeting was lively. All employees from the S City headquarters attended. The banquet hall was grand yet cozy. Zuo Chi opened the meeting with a speech, thanking everyone for their hard work over the past year and looking forward to new achievements in the coming year. He spoke calmly and confidently into the microphone.

As he stood on the stage, his gaze swept through the crowd and caught Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan walking hand in hand into the room.

Sheng Li didn’t come.

Zuo Chi wasn’t very surprised, but he still felt a moment of disappointment.

His speech was concise, not wasting anyone’s time. The audience applauded, and some of his subordinates cheered his name in support.

Next, various departments performed—singing, dancing, and stand-up comedy. After the performances, everyone had dinner, with raffle drawings and award ceremonies in between. The winning rate was high, and the prizes were generous.

Towards the end of the dinner, Zuo Yi took the stage to announce the friendly cooperation with the Sheng family. Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan also gave brief speeches.

Many employees had already heard rumors about Zuo Chi and Sheng Li’s upcoming engagement and glanced at Zuo Chi, who pretended not to notice and looked straight ahead.

After Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan finished speaking, Zuo Chi approached them. “Hello, Uncle Sheng, Uncle Li.”

Sheng Changyu smiled at him. “Xiao Chi, have you been busy with work lately?”

Zuo Chi: “It’s manageable. Things will be easier once the year-end rush is over.”

Li Mingchuan said, “You look a bit thinner. Remember to take care of your health despite the workload. I have some ganoderma and ginseng in my car; you can take them later.”

Zuo Chi said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Sheng Changyu explained proactively, “We planned to bring Sheng Li along today, but he had some work to attend to at the last minute. He rarely takes his work seriously, so we let him be. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No problem, I understand.” He knew it was just an excuse for Sheng Li to avoid him.

Work? Slacking off at the company for a whole year, but suddenly having something to handle during their annual meeting?

Sheng Li probably hadn’t figured out how to face him yet.

Sheng Changyu patted his shoulder. “Join us for dinner on the 31st to celebrate the New Year together?”

Zuo Chi smiled and replied, “Sure.”

On Saturday, Zuo Chi rarely worked overtime and planned to read at home, but he couldn’t concentrate. His thoughts kept drifting to Sheng Li.

Just then, Cheng Xiangwan called, inviting him to go shopping, saying new gear was needed for the New Year. Zuo Chi figured it was better to keep busy than to brood alone, so he agreed.

Cheng Xiangwan had strong shopping stamina, and Zuo Chi followed him, carrying shopping bags from the first to the fourth floor. The two of them attracted attention, with passersby frequently glancing their way.

Zuo Chi checked the time. They had been in the mall for two hours. “Cheng Xiangwan, you’ve already bought three bags, two coats, and a pair of pants.”

“Is that a lot? Year-end bonuses are coming, just spending a bit in advance.” Cheng Xiangwan entered an original jewelry store and picked out a bite-resistant collar with studs and metal chains. He held it up to the mirror. “Sexy?”

Zuo Chi touched the material. “Don’t you usually just use shielding patches?”

Cheng Xiangwan said, “I bought it for you.”

Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow. “For me?”

“Your birthday is coming up. Try it on.” Cheng Xiangwan, fearing Zuo Chi wouldn’t accept it, added, “No need to thank me. You have to give me something more expensive for my birthday.”

Zuo Chi’s birthday was in January, which wasn’t far off. He hesitated, “Isn’t this one too flashy?”

“No, it’s not.” Cheng Xiangwan unfastened the collar around Zuo Chi’s neck, put on the new one, and held up the round mirror from the table.

The skin on Zuo Chi’s neck was delicate, like white porcelain, and the perfect lines of his shoulders and neck highlighted his elegance. The collar around his neck made him look both cold and alluring. As he turned to look at the mirror, the metal chain made a clinking sound, making him resemble a dangerous piece of art.

“Damn,” Cheng Xiangwan exclaimed in awe, “If I were an Alpha, I wouldn’t be able to hold back.”

Zuo Chi replied, “…What nonsense are you talking about?”

Seizing the opportunity, the shop assistant came over to introduce the collar and praised Zuo Chi: “Sir, this anti-bite collar can fully prevent an Alpha’s canine teeth from penetrating, protecting your gland safely. It’s designed by a top domestic designer, and it suits you perfectly.”

After Zuo Chi removed the collar, Cheng Xiangwan didn’t hesitate to have the assistant wrap it up and paid promptly.

The gift box containing the collar was exquisite. Zuo Chi sincerely said, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, no need to be so formal,” Cheng Xiangwan suggested going to the basement to buy two cups of fruit tea and take a break. “How do you plan to spend your birthday?”

Zuo Chi didn’t have any special feelings about birthdays. He always thought that birthdays should be spent like any other day, without any need for special arrangements.

But Sheng Li didn’t think that way. He always believed that birthdays, the day one arrived in the world, should be celebrated, and spending it alone was somewhat lonely. Therefore, after meeting Sheng Li, every birthday of Zuo Chi’s had Sheng Li’s presence. When they were young, Sheng Li would buy a cake for them to share. As they grew older, Sheng Li would organize parties or prepare a “surprise” for him.

In middle school, Zuo Chi liked playing basketball, so Sheng Li spent a lot of money and used connections to get a pair of limited-edition sneakers signed by Zuo Chi’s favorite player. Those shoes were still in a drawer in Zuo Chi’s bedroom, never worn.

Sheng Li teased him for treating the shoes like a fanboy’s treasured item, but Zuo Chi didn’t refute. In reality, he treasured the shoes not because of the signature but because Sheng Li had given them to him.

In high school, Zuo Chi’s favorite author held a book signing event in S City. However, he couldn’t attend because he had a national competition. Sheng Li skipped class to attend the event for him and even got the author to write a message on the front page, wishing him a happy birthday.

“Happy birthday to Ah Chi, remember to smile more.” The words were written by the author, but the sentiment was Sheng Li’s.

Only Sheng Li called him “Ah Chi.”

In college, Sheng Li dressed in a heavy mascot costume to sing him a happy birthday song. Scene after scene replayed in Zuo Chi’s mind, touching his sensitive nerves. Things were different now; this year, there might not be a “surprise.”

“I haven’t decided,” Zuo Chi pretended to be calm, “That day is a Wednesday, so I’ll probably be at work.”

“Tsk,” Cheng Xiangwan asked, “What did Sheng Li get you as a gift?”

Zuo Chi didn’t answer.

Cheng Xiangwan said, “If he doesn’t give it to you willingly, you should ask him for it.”

Zuo Chi replied, “I don’t lack anything.”

“Dummy,” Cheng Xiangwan said, “Who said it has to be a material thing?”

Whether before or after his differentiation, as a descendant of the Zuo family, Zuo Chi had never lacked materially and had no significant material desires.

What he wanted was very simple—to spend his birthday with Sheng Li, just like in the past years. As long as Sheng Li was with him, even doing nothing all day would be meaningful.

After parting ways with Cheng Xiangwan at the restaurant, Zuo Chi drove past Sheng Li’s house on his way back and couldn’t resist stopping to find him.

He was never a very patient person. Once he had a goal, he wanted to achieve it urgently. Most of his patience had been spent on Sheng Li, which was why he could harbor his secret crush for so many years.

He couldn’t always wait.

He rang the doorbell, but there was no response. He took out a key but couldn’t open the door. In disbelief and unwilling to give up, he tried again, with the same result.

Sheng Li had changed the locks.

To avoid being disturbed by him, Sheng Li had changed the locks.

How could Sheng Li do this?

In an instant, Zuo Chi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his whole body cold. He vented his frustration by pounding on the door, pain spreading from his knuckles, but he didn’t seem to feel it and pounded again.

Was this locked door Sheng Li’s answer to him?

Sheng Li wasn’t home; he might be out with Tai Xingyu and the others, possibly drinking and having fun with a bunch of cronies, or even holding an Omega and heading to a hotel…

None of it had anything to do with Zuo Chi.

What did he matter?

Zuo Chi sat on the steps at the door, his whole body stiffening. If it hadn’t been for Zuo Yi calling to ask him to pick up Zuo Lie from the police station, he might have sat there indefinitely.

On the way to the police station, Zuo Chi learned what had happened. Zuo Lie had been speeding in a sports car, collided with another car, and though the crash wasn’t severe, they exchanged a few words and started fighting, ending up at the police station.

Since Zuo Lie had started the fight, if the other party refused a private settlement, he would face five to ten days of detention according to public security regulations.

Zuo Chi wished Zuo Lie could be detained for a few days, but at the police station, he still negotiated with the other driver along with the lawyer sent by Zuo Yi.

No one rejects money, and the other party quickly agreed to a settlement.

Zuo Chi was already angry. Seeing Zuo Lie’s indifferent attitude made him even angrier. He took a photo of Zuo Lie’s injured face against the backdrop of the police station’s name.

Since he rarely used the camera function on his phone, it made a “click” sound when taking the photo. Zuo Lie stood up angrily, “What are you doing?”

“Your foolish actions have wasted an hour and twenty-three minutes of my time… now it’s an hour and twenty-four minutes.” Zuo Chi whispered in Zuo Lie’s ear, “I have no obligation to help you. Look at you, not steady at all, how do you resemble an heir of the Zuo family?”

“You… What’s wrong with you today…” Zuo Lie was stunned. As long as he didn’t provoke Zuo Chi, Zuo Chi usually wouldn’t speak harshly to him. “So what if I don’t resemble an heir? No matter how much you resemble one, you will never be one.”

Zuo Chi stared at him coldly, his gaze making Zuo Lie feel like a venomous snake was licking his cheek.

He said, “Zuo Lie, take care of yourself.”

Zuo Chi wasn’t stupid. This matter didn’t require his involvement. Perhaps Zuo Yi wanted to pressure Zuo Lie through him or maybe he just wanted to control him, reminding him to assist Zuo Lie in becoming a competent leader.

Either way, it made him feel extremely annoyed.